The NHL Playoff Games Encore in High Definition Weekends in April and Big Movie Thursday Spices Up Its Lineup

BURBANK, Calif. � April XX, 2008 � Universal HD salutes our planet Earth with two nights of "green" programming in honor of Earth Day. The NHL comes to life in HD when the network runs weekend encores of the biggest playoff games. Big Movie Thursday continues with themed events and bonus episodes of their newest series, "Philly" and "Big Apple," which highlight Crime Sundays.

"This month we are committed to supporting the green initiative with our day of green programming for Earth Day," said Dan Harrison, Senior Vice President, Emerging Networks. "April's line-up offers viewers a vast assortment of sports, movies and hit series � in the best quality high definition there is to offer."

In honor of Planet Earth, Universal HD gives viewers two days of green-themed programming to celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23. Viewers pay a visit to "30 Rock" and its Green Week mascot, "Greenzo!" Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin star in this environmentally conscious episode with guest stars David Schwimmer and Al Gore. The network gets some green tips about driving, fuel, cities and even clothing on "Big Ideas for a Small Planet" on Tuesday, April 22 from 8:30-10pm and 12:30-2:30am ET. Viewers will bask in the beautiful Hawaiian scenery with Kate Bosworth in "Blue Crush" on Tuesday, April 22 at 10pm ET and, last but not least, Universal HD will feature selected episodes of "Jeep World of Adventure" featuring carbon-neutral sports from around the planet on Tuesday, April 22 from 2:30-5:30am and Wednesday, April 23 from 6-9pm ET.

Universal HD gives viewers a dose of the NHL during NHL Encores in April. Night owls can catch the latest NHL playoff games for three weekends as follows:

Conference Quarterfinals: Saturday, April 12 at 2am, Sunday, April 13 at 2:30am ET

Conference Quarterfinals: Saturday, April 19 at 2:30am, Sunday, April 20 at 2am ET

Conference Semifinals: Saturday, April 26 at 2am, Sunday, April 27 at 2am ET

Beginning on Thursday, April 3, Big Movie Thursday kicks off the month with the following themed nights:

"Trouble with Girls" is the theme of the night on Thursday, April 3 in four superb films. Tom Hanks has his own dose of trouble with Melanie Griffith in "Bonfire of the Vanities" at 5pm and 3:30am ET, followed by an obsession gone wrong with Alicia Silverstone and Cary Elves in "The Crush" at 7:30pm and 1:30am ET. Bridget Fonda stars in the action/adventure "Point of No Return" at 9:30pm ET and Hugh Grant learns to respect women in "About A Boy" at 11:30pm ET.

"Romance" is the theme on Thursday, April 10 when a vacation turns into the love affair of a lifetime in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" at 6:30pm ET. Bette Midler leads "The First Wives Club" at 9pm and 1am ET while Hugh Grant learns "About a Boy" at 11pm ET.

Thursday, April 17 is all about "The Law" beginning with three back-to-back episodes of acclaimed producer Steven Bochco's "Philly" starring Kim Delaney at 5pm and 4am ET. Matt Damon is an idealistic young lawyer in John Grisham's "The Rainmaker" at 8pm, followed by Woody Harrelson in "The People Vs. Larry Flynt" at 10:30pm and Denzel Washington in "The Hurricane" at 1am ET.

It's all about "Tough Guys" on Thursday, April 24 beginning with two episodes of Ed O'Neill in "Big Apple" from producer David Milch ("NYPD Blue," "Deadwood") at 4pm ET. Kiefer Sutherland and Dennis Hopper experience a "Flashback" at 6pm ET followed by the incomparable Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry" at 8pm and 3am ET. Bruce Willis and Richard Gere carry on the night in "The Jackal" at 10pm ET and Liam Neeson crosses swords as "Rob Roy" at 12:30am ET.